Neilson brings in Neil MacFarlane as first team coach

Toby Lock

Robbie Neilson has added former Coventry City assistant boss Neil MacFarlane to his coaching staff.

The 39-year-old joins until the end of the season as first team coach and brings experience of League 1 with him to Neilson's backroom staff.

From 2013 to 2015, MacFarlane was assistant manager to Steven Pressley at Coventry City, and again at Fleetwood Town after the Scot left the Ricoh Arena.

But after Pressley left the Highbury Stadium in July, MacFarlane has been out of work, and was snapped up by Neilson, initially until the end of the season.

"He's got really good experience of the league," Neilson said. "I needed that experience in here, someone to turn to, to ask about players, systems and managers.

"Stevie (Crawford) too has worked with him a bit at Falkirk, and I've worked with him a little bit. He's a character, a worker and he'll put a shift in, and that's what we need.

"He'll be day-to-day, he'll hands on, out on the training pitch, assisting in analysis and pre-match stuff, getting to know players and teams we don't yet know about."

MacFarlane told mkdons.com: “I’m absolutely delighted. We’ve been talking about it for a week so it’s good to get started.

“I know the manager having played with him and then worked for a while when he was starting out in coaching, while I also worked with Stevie at Falkirk for a number of years. We all get on very well and hopefully that can help drive the Club forward.”

He added: “Stevie was Robbie’s assistant at Hearts and they did tremendously well together – I’m just looking to come in and offer my experience from my time in England. I’m looking forward to working hard as a group and trying to push the team up the table.”